Indian Beverages

Whether to beat the heat of sultry Indian summer or just to savour the taste, Indian beverages have a worldwide appeal. Tasty, refreshing, easy to make and at the same time cheap, Indian beverages have embarked a number of celebration. Thandai(nut milk) Lassi, a drink prepared from curd Nimbu Paani (fresh lime juice) Aam Panna (drink prepared from mango juice),Jal Jeera are some of the typical North Indian beverages. These drinks are popular on festive occasions and served for entertaining guests. Beverages are also served at Indian weddings. Tea is also a North Indian beverage but now it is consumed all over India throughout the year. Coffee on the other hand is a typical South Indian beverage but now it is popular all over India and especially among the younger generations. Chass is a traditional Gujarati beverage and in some places taken instead of drinking water and is the vernacular term for butter milk. Sharbat is also a traditional Indian drink popularised by the Mughal rulers and is prepared from fruits or flower petals. Cea is a beverage from the Coromandel Coast which is a mixture of coffee and tea. However this is only the tip of the iceberg as the Indian beverages can be found in their endless variety and subtlety. Some of the prominent Indian beverages are

Tea

Tea is a beverage made by steeping processed leaves, buds, or twigs of the tea bush (Camellia sinensis) in hot water for a few minutes. The processing can include oxidation (fermentation), heating, drying, and the addition of other herbs, flowers, spices, and fruits. “Chai” is the Hindi word for Tea. Indian tea is full bodied and strong. Known throughout the world and adored by millions.

Coffee

Coffee is a widely consumed beverage prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant. It is usually served hot but can also be served cold. India offers several varieties of specialty coffees that are popular in the West.

Lassi

Lassi is a traditional Indian Beverage, made by blending yogurt with water, salt, and spices until frothy, that is enjoyed chilled as a hot-weather refreshment. Yogurt is mentioned in ancient Indian texts, and so is buttermilk. Traditional lassi is sometimes flavored with ground roasted cumin. Traditional lassi is salty and sometimes flavored with ground roasted cumin and chilli pepper.

Somaras

Soma was made as a part of a sacrificial ritual, by pressing the plant between stones, mixing the juice with milk and filtering it through sheepskin. It was not an alcoholic drink, since there was less time between manufacture and consumption.

Indian Sherbets

Cooling personified as it can be said Indian sherbets employ remarkable ingredients, famed to refresh all during hot and humid Indian summer. The variety of sherbets made in a strict Indian desi-style, lends the cool drink its definitive edge, strictly concocted to make people smile amidst sultriness.